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rings. On taking the grub from the oat stem it progressed quickly across a table, 

 working itself along by moving the rings of its body like a dipterous larva and at 

 the same time making use of its slightly extensile tail to push itself along. The 

 next day the same larvfe were found in the stems of Panicum Crus-galli, a very suc- 

 culent grass. When full grown the larvae left their food plants, and burying them- 

 selves in the soil formed oval chambers and changed to small beetles, which were 

 afterwards identified for me by Mr. A. B. Schwarz, of Washington, and also by Dr. 

 John Hamilton, of Allegheny, Pa. 



This, I should judge, is not likely ever to develop into a serious pest of oats. It 

 decidedly showed greater preference for the wild grass, P. Crus-galli. 



RED TURNIP-BEETLE. 



{Entomoscelis adonidis, Fab.) 



Attack. — A showy scarlet beetle, with three black stripes down its back, a black 

 patch on the collar and black legs. Two-thirds the size ©f the Colorado Potato 

 Beetle, but narrower in outline. Eating the leaves of turnips, radishes and cabbages. 



In August, 1885, I found upon the farm of Messrs. Cowdry Bros., at Eegina, 

 North-West Territories, sufficient- specimens of this beetle to convince me that at 

 any time it might develop into a troublesome pest. As then noted, this beetle also 

 occurs in Europe, and I can see no difference between our specimens and some in my 

 collection from Austria. It has everj'- appearance of being a native insect. Since 

 1885 I have received no complaints of this beetle ; but the following extracts will 

 show that it can develop into a serious crop pest. From corresponding with the 

 settlers through the district I judge that the injury is done by the adult beetle only. 

 I have been unable to learn as yet its life history, 



" July 20. — I enclose you some beetles and wish to ask if they are of a harmful 

 kind. At present I only find them on turnips and cabbages, but they may spread 

 further."— G. D. Fitzgerald, Grenfell, K-W.T. 



" August 8. — i send you by mail specimens of a beetle that has for about three 

 weeks been feeding on the leaves of radishes; they are so numerous as to have half 

 stripped the leaves from all the radishes and have cleared some to the stalk ; we have 

 noticed some feeding on the turnip-tops, but not to do any noticeable harm. Are 

 they likely to give much trouble, and if so, how shall we destroy them ? " — J. A. Smith, 

 Saskatoon, N.-W.T. 



"August 10. — Please inform me what the enclosed insects are. I picked them 

 off my turnips, which they have eaten the leaves off bare, only leaving the large ribs. 

 I have noticed that such turnips as have been stripped have ceased growing." — Isaac 

 Jones, Pheasant Forks, N.-W.T. 



"August 11. — I am sending you some beetles somewhat like lady-bugs, found on 

 our turnips. They are doing considerable damage to the Sweet German turnips 

 and a little to the other white turnips, but do not touch Swedes. I propose trying 

 Paris Green in water." — S. A. Bedford, Brandon, Man. 



" August 12. — I send you herewith some red insects, of which we have thousands 

 on our turnips. Kindly give me some account of them." — Eev. F. R. Hole, Raise, 

 Minnedosa, Man. 



Upon enquiring later whether the beetle had bred upon the turnip leaves, Mr. 

 Hole wrote : — "The beetles appeared in July in full force on our turnips; they ate 

 through the leaves a good deal, but the roots did not seem to suffer much. I did 

 not notice any soft-bodied grubs such as you describe. 



" Yours received ; would say the beetle you speak of did not breed or lay eggs on 

 the leaves, as far as I could see ; saw only the beetles."— Wm. H. Weston, Lorlie, 

 Man. 



" Although hundreds of the beetles were working on the radishes and a few on 

 turnips near by, I believe none of them bred. I have also enquired of a neighbour 

 who had them in the garden, and find that they did not breed there either." — Joseph 

 A. Smith, Saskatoon, N.-W.T. 



